Pants

ABSTRACT

A pair of pants comprises two hip pieces, front and back wings joined to lateral edges of the hip portions and a waistband portion. Vertical front and back seams join right and left sides of the garment each comprising a hip portion, a front wing and a back wing. Opposite lateral edges of the hip pieces have upper portions that are convexly curved and diverge from a median axis and lower portions that are approximately straight. In one embodiment the waistband portion is formed by integral portions joining the front and back wings on each side. In another embodiment the waistband is a separate piece. The pants may have short legs or long legs as desired.

United States Patent [1 1 Belpaume 1 1 PANTS [75] Inventor: Charles H. Belpaume, Bouc-Bel-Air,

France [73] Assignee: Societe Anonyme dite: Innovations Pour lElegance Masculine, Marseille, France [22] Filed: Aug. 10, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 387,439

[52] 11.8. C1. 2/227, 2/238 [51] Int. Cl A41d 1/06 [58] Field of Search 2/227, 228, 238, 224 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,325,924 8/1943 Terry 2/227 2,334,311 11/1943 Cadous 2/227 2,493,357 1/1950 Miller 2/238 X June 4, 1974 2,763,498 10/1973 Rector ..2/227X Primary Examiner-H. Hampton Hunter Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Robert E. Burns; Emmanuel J. Lobato; Bruce L. Adams [57] ABSTRACT A pair of pants comprises two hip pieces, front and v back wings joined to lateral edges of the hip portions and a waistband portion. Vertical front and back seams join right and left sides of the garment each comprising a hip portion, a front wing and a back wing. Opposite lateral edges of the hip pieces have upper portions that are convexly curved and diverge from a median axis and lower portions that are approximately straight. ln one embodiment the waistband portion is formed by integral portions joining the front and back wings on each side. In another embodiment the waistband is a separate piece. The pants may have short legs or long legs as desired.

10 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEIJJI H 4 I974 sum 1 or 6 mOE PATENTEUJUN 4 m4 SHEET 6 (IF 6 FIG.12 H643 PANTS The invention relates to pants and particularly to tennis shorts and other shorts used for sport as well as to slacks and trousers.

The sports practiced throughout the world can be divided into two general classes. In team sports, the sport dress and in particular the shorts serve simply the function of providing cover and of being functional in that they provide a certain liberty of movement. In more aristocratic sports, for example tennis, the low unit cost obtained by mass production is sacrificed in order to obtain quality and more particularly to obtain an attractive appearance while permitting freedom of movement. Accordingly, sport shorts have heretofore been made which have an appearance responding to requirements dictated by a category of sports that can be termed aristocratic. However these garments have not provided ease of movement and are not at all adapted to accommodating different positions of the wearer without displacement or highly disagreeable slipping.

It is an object of the present invention to remedy 2 these inconveniences by providing a garment, notably tennis shorts and other sportswear, which maintains an essentially perfect contour while permitting the wearer maximum liberty of movement and giving him the possibility of maintaining all of the ease and grace which the sport demands so as to accommodate the attitudes and the rapidity of changing movements without effort.

By reason of its two contoured lateral seams, the pants in accordance with the present invention assure the wearer of a correct set at all times, a perfect contour and an aesthetic appearance, both in action and in repose.

The invention accordingly relates to pants, notably shorts and in particular tennis shorts, which present the following two different modes of execution. These modes lead to two closely related embodiments which respond exactly to the same object of appearance and ease of movement. According to the first embodiment the pants comprise a double set of identical pieces, each comprising firstly, a principal front-back piece presenting, when flat, a straight upper edge, a central upper portion of small width extended forwardly and rearwardly by two wings of greater width which extend downwardly and define between them a concave cutout in the form of an arch and secondly, a contoured auxiliary hip piece having a convexly-curved contour joined to the principal piece by a convexly curved interior seam extending along the interior contour of the principal piece and which follows practically the contour of the hip and the upper extremity of the limb.

The second embodiment presents a slightly different cut which permits obtaining greater ease of manufacture and greater comfort. The upper portions of the front-back pieces and the auxiliary hip piece are truncated and the three pieces, namely the auxiliary hip piece and the two lateral wings, corresponding to the wings of the front-back piece of the first embodiment, are assembled and are secured at their upper edge to a waistband.

The second embodiment is thus composed of a double set of identical pieces comprising an auxiliary hip piece having lateral sides essentially symmetrical with respect to a median axis with upper portions of the lateral edges convexly curved and lower portions essen 2 tially straight. The upper edge of the auxiliary hip piece is slightly inclined while the lower edge is straight and provided at its midportion with an essentially rectangular projection which is folded inwardly when hemming the lower edge. A central vertical slit provided in the lower portion of the piece is reinforced by the infolded tab and is open at the lower edge of the piece when the tab is folded inwardly and the lower edge of the piece is hemmed. The set of pieces further comprises two wings, namely a front wing and a rear wing having sub stantially rectilinear upper edges of small width and slightly concave inner contours for assemblage with the corresponding sides of the auxiliary hip piece by two front and back contoured seams. The upper edges of the auxiliary hip piece and the two wings are joined to a band encircling the waist of the wearer. A pocket is appliqued on one of the auxiliary hip pieces.

The second embodiment provides a simplicity of assembly and a contour of seams which is simpler than that of the first embodiment while realizing with a minimum'of pieces a garment adapted to the anatomical volume that it is designed to envelop.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description of preferred embodiments shown by way of example in the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the front of a garment in accordance with the invention as it appears when lying flat;

FIG. 2 is a similar plan view of the rear of the ment;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the garment in position on a wearer;

FIG. 4 is a plan of one of the two front-back pieces of the garment shown lying flat;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of one of the two auxiliary hip pieces of the garment lying flat;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of trousers derived from the garment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the trousers shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the front of a second embodiment of the invention lying flat;

FIG. 9 is a plan of the rear of the garment shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the garment of FIG. 8 shown in position on a wearer;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a set of pieces used in the construction of the garment of FIG. 8 lying flat;

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of trousers derived from the garment shown in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 13 is a side perspective view of the same trousers.

The garment in accordance with the invention can be made in the form ofshorts as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 8 to 10 or in the form of long trousers or slacks as illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, l2 and 13, Moreover, the legs may, if .desired, be of intermediate length as for example in Bermuda shorts.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 and in FIGS. 8 and 9, the garment in accordance with the present invention is symmetrical with respect to a central fore-and-aft vertical plane except fora pocket. It will hence suffice to describe the pieces comprising one side of the garment, for example the right side as seen in FIG. 1.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the embodiment of the invention therein shown is composed of at least four pieces which are symmetrical in pairs with respect garto a median plane 1 which divides the garment into a left part A and a right part B. It is hence sufficient to describe the two pieces disposed on the same side of the median plane for example, those of the right part B (FIG. 1) since the homologous pieces of the other side are symmetrical with respect to this plane.

The parts comprising the right hand portion B of the garment comprise first of all, a principal front-back piece 2 which, when lying flat as shown in FIG. 4, has a straight upper edge 3 which after being folded and stitched down forms a flat hem to receive an elastic band forming the belt. The front-back piece 2 comprises an upper central portion 4 of small width elongated on each side by two wings of greater width, namely a front wing 5 and a back wing 6. The two wings 5 and 6 are separated by a cut out in the shape of an arch 7 having a curved upper part 7a and approximately straight sides 7b and 7c.

The lower portion of each of the two wings 5 and 6 extend outwardly to provide wider flaps 8 and 9. Each wing and each flap has in common a lower curved edge 10 and 11 respectively which are concave downwardly with a large radius of curvature. The edge 10 is somewhat more curved than the edge 11. The curved edges 10 and 11 are limited at their outer ends by straight edges 12 and 13 respectively which are approximately perpendicular to the edges 10 and 11 at the points of intersection.

The outer lateral edge of the wing 5 has an inclined approximately straight portion 5a and a concavely curved lower portion 5b which intersects the edge 12 at approximately right angles. The outer lateral edge of the wing 6 has an approximately straight downwardly inclined upper edge portion 6a and a concave lower edge portion 61) which intersects the edge 13 at an angle somewhat greater than 90. The opposite edge portions 5a and 6a diverge downwardly at an angle of approximately l5 to one another. The radius of curvature of the concave portion 61) is somewhat greater than that of the opposite concave portion 511.

The parts comprising the right hand portion B of the garment further include an auxiliary hip piece 14 having front and rear lateral edges 15 and 16 respectively which convexly curve outwardly on opposite sides of a central axis xy and a lower edge 17 which is divided into two segments 18 and 19 by a central V-shaped cutout 20 located on the xy axis. The segments 18 and 19 are slightly curved and form between them a very open V, the point of which is directed downwardly and which opens upwardly at an angle approaching 180. The edges 18 and 19 as well as those of the central cutout 20 are folded inwardly and sewn to form a seam.

The curved front and rear lateral edges 15 and 16 extend in opposite directions from the intersection 0 of the edge with the xy axis and each is divided into two segments DC, CD and OE, FF. The first curved segments OC and OF are practically segments of parabolas having the same axis xy and different parameters. The parameter of the rear segment OE being less that that of the front segment DC gives a trace which is flared out more. The two curved sides 15 and 16 terminate in approximately straight portions comprising respectively the segments CD and EF.

The auxiliary hip piece 14 is joined to the principal front'back piece 2 by an inwardly curving'seam 21 which follows the contour of the hip and the upper extremity of the thigh.

A generally rectangular pocket 22 is appliqued on the front inner portion of the auxiliary hip piece 14 of the right hand portion B by being secured along three of its edges. The pocket is disposed somewhat obliquely toward the rear with reference to the .ry axis. The left or front edge 23 (FIG. 3) ofthe pocket is held between the two adjacent front inner edges of the two pieces 2 and 14 by the joining inner seam 21. The pocket 22 also has a lower edge 24 which is closed by being held in the seam of the lower front segment T8 of the piece 14 as well as a closed right side edge 25 (FlG. 3) and an upper edge 26 which is almost wholly open. The edges 25 and 26 have a visible seam 27 which is spaced from and parallel to the edges joining the pocket 22 and the piece 14 along the edge 25 and for a short distance at the left hand part of the edge 26.

The two principal front-back pieces 2 of the parts A and B are joined longitudinally by straight vertical seams 28 and 29 respectively on the front and on the back of the pants. The lower edges 12 and 13 of the front-back pieces 2 are joined in crotch seams 30. The lower edges 10 and 11 are hemmed and constitute continuations of the lower edges 18 and 19 of the auxiliary hip pieces 14 to form inner portions of the leg of the pants.

As indicated above, the invention equally relates to slacks or trousers which are derived from the shorts shown in FlGS. l to 3 merely by legthening the legs as illustrated in FlGS. 6 and 7. The seams 21 are extended downwardly at the front and at the back of the trousers as two distinct seams 21a and 21b bordering each exterior flank of each leg. The contoured seams are preferably combined with traditional creases front and back, along each leg of the trouser. The notch 20 disappears and each auxiliary hip piece 14 is elongated downwardly so as totally to cover the outer flank of the leg.

The pocket 22 keeps its position and remains in all respects identical with that of the shorts. The same is true with respect to the seams which secure the pocket appliqued on the auxiliary hip piece 14.

The wings of the front-back pieces 2 are extended downwardly to form the inner part of the legs of the trousers. The downward extensions of the front and back wings 5 and 6 are joined to the downward extensions of the hip pieces 14 by the seams 21a and 21b and to each other by seams extending down from the crotch. The usual creases, by the contoured seams 21a and 21b along the legs of the trousers, remain in the upper portion. The contour of these curved seams which advantageously replace the traditional creases throughout the total length of the trouser legs assures in an elegant manner the comfort and correct set of the trousers by molding to each hip and each outer flank of the leg.

The trousers can be provided in front along the vertical seam 28 with a vertical opening 21 closed by a flap 32 extending between the belt and crotch. However other modes of realization are also possible.

A second embodiment of the invention which is particularly important commercially will now be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11 and particularly FIG. 11. Each set of pieces as illustrated in FlG. 11 comprises first of all, an auxiliary hip piece 33 having, when laid flat, a front lateral edge 34 and a rear lateral edge 35 which are essentially symmetrical about a median axis 22 shown in dotted lines. These lateral edges have convexly curved upper portions and essentially straight and parallel lower portions. The upper portion of the auxiliary hip piece 33 is truncated along a straight line 36 which is slightly inclined to the median axis 22 and a lower straight edge 37 which is approximately perpendicular to the axis ZZ. A downwardly extending rectangular tab 38 is provided at a midportion of the lower edge 37 and a slit 39 provided on the axis ZZ' extends down into the tab 38. The edges 37 and the tab 38 are folded inwardly to form a hem. The tab 38 thereby reinforces the slit 39 which opens downwardly as seen in FIG. 10.

The set of pieces shown in FIG. 11 further comprises a front wing 40 and a rear wing 41. The pieces 40 and 41 have upper edges 42'and 43 respectively which are approximately straight although shown slightly concave, and slightly concave inner edges 44 and 45 designed to be joined to the lateral edges-34 and 35 of the auxiliary hip piece 33 by contoured front and back seams 46 and 47 respectively which are curved to conform to the anatomical contour of the hip.

Each of the wings 40 and 41 has at its lower part a laterally extending flap portion 48 and 49 respectively. Each .wing and each flap portion has in common a lower edge 50, 51 which is downwardly concave with a large radius of curvature. The outer extent of the flaps 48, 49 is limited by straight lateral edges 52 and 53 which are generally perpendicular to the edges 50 and 51 at the points of intersection. The wing 40 and its flap 48 have a concavely curved lateral edge 54 which merges into a substantially straight upper portion. The wing 41 and its flap 49 have a lateral edge 55 with a notch 550 at the junction between a straight upper portion 55a and a concavely curved lower portion 55b.

The pieces are assembled by joining the inner lateral edges 44 and 45 of the wing pieces 40 and 41 respectively with the lateral edges 34 and 35 of the auxiliary hip piece 33. The outer lateral edges 54 and 55 of the wing pieces are joined to corresponding edges of the other half of the garment. The upper edges 36, 42, and 43 of the pieces 33, 40 and 41 are joined to an elongated waistband piece 56 having parallel lateral edges. One end of the waistband 56 has a straight transverse edge 56a while at the other end the edge is formed to provide tmbimssv which are sir erfiai'a'taiafifia single point 58 (FIG. 8) when the waistband is folded along .its median line. Along its longitudinal edges the band 56 is provided with notches such as 59 for the fixation of the legs.

A pocket 60 which is generally rectangular is appliqued on the lower front portion of one of the auxiliary hip pieces 33 by having three of its edges secured. The left side edge 61 of the pocket is secured in the curved seam 46 while the opposite side edge and lower edge of the pocket are secured by seams to the auxiliary hip piece 33. When the garment is made as tennis shorts, this pocket can be used to hold one or more tennis balls.

As indicated above. the invention relates equally to slacks or trousers derived from the shorts shown in FIGS. 8 to merely by elongating the legs as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. The contoured seams 46 and 47 are elongated downwardly at the front and at the back of the trousers along two distinct seams 46a and 47a and 46b and 47h bordering the outer flank of each leg. These contoured seams are preferably combined with traditional creases, front and rear, along each leg of the trousers. The slits 39 disappear and each auxiliary hip piece 33 is elongated downwardly to cover completely the outer flank of the leg.

The pocket keeps its form and its location and remains in all respects identical with that on the shorts. The same is true of the seams which secure the pocket appliqued on the auxiliary hip piece 33.

The front and rear wings 40 and 41 are extended downwardly to form the inner portions of the legs of the trousers. The downward extensions of the front and rear wings are joined to the downward extensions of the hip pieces 33 by the seams 46a, 46b, 47a and 47b and to. each other by seams extending down from the crotch. The creases replaced by the extensions of the curved seams 46 and 47 along the legs of the trousers will remain in the upper part thereof. The curved seams can advantageously replace the traditional creases for the whole length of the trousers thus assuring in an elegant manner the comfort and correct set of the trousers by molding to each hip and outer flank of the leg.

The trousers can be provided at the front along the vertical seam joining the front pieces 40 with a vertical opening 62 closed by a flap 63 extending between the belt and the crotch. It will be understood that other modes of realization are possible.

While the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments shown by way of example in the drawings, it will be understood that it is in no way limited to these embodiments and that many modifications can be made as to the form, material and combination of the diverse elements without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by letters Patent is:

1. Pants comprising two like sets of pieces forming respectively the right and left sides of the garment. each of said sets comprising an auxiliary hip piece which is at least approximately symmetrical about a median vertical axis and has opposite lateral edges, upper portions of which are convexly curved and lower portions of which are essentially straight, and front and back' wings having inner lateral edges joined respectively with opposite lateral edges of said auxiliary hip piece by contoured seams, said front and back wings having upper portions of less width and lower portions with laterally projecting flap portions, exterior lateral edges of said wings having substantially straight upper portions and concave lower portions curving outwardly to define said flap portions, the exterior lateral edges of the front and back wings of one of said sets being joined to the respective exterior lateral edges of the front and back wings of the other set to form said garment.

2. Pants according to claim 1, in which said front and back wings are joined by an upper portion in a single integral piece having an arch-like cutout to receive said auxiliary hip piece.

3. Pants according to claim 1, in which said auxiliary hip piece and said wings have upper edges joined to a waistband.

4. Pants according to claim 3, in which the upper edge of said auxiliary hip piece is slightly oblique to the median vertical axis of said piece.

5. Pants according to claim 1 comprising shorts, in which lower edges of said front and back wings are concavely curved.

part of one of said auxiliary hip pieces and joined to said piece along three edges.

9. Pants according to claim 8, in which one edge of said pocket is secured in a seam joining said auxiliary hip piece with the respective front wing.

10. Pants according to claim I, in which said auxiliary hip piece and said front and back legs are extended downwardly and are joined to form long legs. 

1. Pants comprising two like sets of pieces forming respectively the right and left sides of the garment, each of said sets comprising an auxiliary hip piece which is at least approximately symmetrical about a median vertical axis and has opposite lateral edges, upper portions of which are convexly curved and lower portions of which are essentially straight, and front and back wings having inner lateral edges joined respectively with opposite lateral edges of said auxiliary hip piece by contoured seams, said front and back wings having upper portions of less width and lower portions with laterally projecting flap portions, exterior lateral edges of said wings having substantially straight upper portions and concave lower portions curving outwardly to define said flap portions, the exterior lateral edges of the front and back wings of one of said sets being joined to the respective exterior lateral edges of the front and back wings of the other set to form said garment.
 2. Pants according to claim 1, in which said front and back wings are joined by an upper portion in a single integral piece having an arch-like cutout to receive said auxiliary hip piece.
 3. Pants according to claim 1, in which said auxiliary hip piece and said wings have upper edges joined to a waistband.
 4. Pants according to claim 3, in which the upper edge of said auxiliary hip piece is slightly oblique to the median vertical axis of said piece.
 5. Pants according to claim 1 comprising shorts, in which lower edges of said front and back wings are concavely curved.
 6. Pants according to claim 5, in which said flap portions have substantially straight lateral edges approximately perpendicular to said lower edges at points of intersection.
 7. Pants according to claim 5, in which said auxiliary hip portion has a lower edge with portions on opposite sides of a center line slightly oblique to define an upright shallow V.
 8. Pants according to claim 1, comprising a general rectangular patch pocket appliqued on the front lower part of one of said auxiliary hip pieces and joined to said piece along three edges.
 9. Pants according to claim 8, in which one edge of said pocket is secured in a seam joining said auxiliary hip piece with the respective front wing.
 10. Pants according to claim 1, in which said auxiliary hip piece and said front and back legs are extended downwardly and are joined to form long legs. 